Into the pits

Up early (so much for a restful holiday!) To meet up with our personal guide and off we went to the Cu Chi tunnels. City scapes slowly gave way to open fields and general asian country ambience.The tunnels used to be swarming with Viet Kong. Being highly successful in their misson of annoying the begeebess out of the imperialist invaders they are now being the highly successful in milking the swarming hords of tourists that frequent them. A short 20meter stint was enough for the claustrophic 50% of our party.

The exprience was very educational and we felt very special having our very own personal guide helping us bypass the busloads. Leaving the site with visions of deadly man traps traps and B52 bomb craters behind we headed back through yet another deluge and miles and miles of rubber plantations. Vietnam is now the worlds largets producer of this valuable resource. Without the latex it produces tyres would be weaker, plebotomists gloves would be harsher and S&M parties far less colourful (so we are led to believe). Back in Saigon we stopped in a cafe for a refreshing iced coffee and a smorgasbord of tasty treats which invariably led us to purchasing the goods on offer from an hilarious host who was learning english from similar travelers over the years. After being deposited back at our hotel by our friendly personal guide we headed out on the town for a stroll via the waterfront and ended up on the rooftop of the Majestic hotel for drinks and superb views of the river and distant surrounds.

Massages, pedicures and more shopping followed. it would be very easy to stay in this area for quite a long time. Dinner was fabulous in an elevated private balcony in an almost deserted cafe' surrounded by the constant sounds of traffic chaos and twinkling fairy lights. More frustration with crappy internet connections and the continuing issue of being unable to upload pictures wrapped up the evening. Funny how this was easier in the middle of outback Australia seven years ago. Tomorrow we head off to Hoi An with the hope of sunny beaches and working internet.